« | Psalm 81 | » |
1 For the leader; "upon the gittith." Of Asaph.
2 Sing joyfully to God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob!
3 Take up a melody, sound the timbrel, the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.
4 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast.
5 For this is a law in Israel, an edict of the God of Jacob,
6 Who made it a decree for Joseph when he came out of the land of Egypt. II I hear a new oracle:
7 "I relieved their shoulders of the burden; their hands put down the basket.
8 In distress you called and I rescued you; unseen, I spoke to you in thunder; At the waters of Meribah I tested you and said: Selah
9 'Listen, my people, I give you warning! If only you will obey me, Israel!
10 There must be no foreign god among you; you must not worship an alien god.
11 I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open wide your mouth that I may fill it.'
12 But my people did not listen to my words; Israel did not obey me.
13 So I gave them over to hardness of heart; they followed their own designs.
14 But even now if my people would listen, if Israel would walk in my paths,
15 In a moment I would subdue their foes, against their enemies unleash my hand.
16 Those who hate the LORD would tremble, their doom sealed forever.
17 But Israel I would feed with the finest wheat, satisfy them with honey from the rock."
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU)
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU) is a highly respected English translation of the Bible known for its rigorous adherence to the original languages of Scripture. First published in 1995 by the Lockman Foundation, the NASU is an update of the New American Standard Bible (NASB), which was originally completed in 1971. The NASU seeks to improve upon the NASB by enhancing readability and modernizing the language while maintaining the translation’s reputation for being one of the most literal translations available. This makes the NASU a preferred choice for serious Bible study, preaching, and teaching.
A key feature of the NASU is its commitment to formal equivalence, or a word-for-word translation philosophy. The translators aimed to produce a text that is as close as possible to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. This approach ensures that the NASU captures the precise meaning and structure of the original texts, providing readers with a highly accurate and reliable representation of the Scriptures. The use of formal equivalence makes the NASU particularly valuable for those who desire a deep and detailed understanding of the Bible, including scholars, theologians, and students of the Word.
In updating the NASB, the NASU made several important changes to improve clarity and readability. While maintaining the accuracy and literalness of the translation, the NASU incorporates modern English expressions and smoother sentence structures. This makes the text more accessible to contemporary readers without compromising the precision that the NASB is known for. The NASU also includes updated cross-references and footnotes, which provide additional context and insights, further aiding in the study and understanding of the biblical text.
Despite its many strengths, the NASU has faced some criticism. Some readers and scholars argue that the translation’s emphasis on literalness can sometimes result in a text that feels stiff or less fluid than more dynamic translations. Additionally, while the NASU’s updated language makes it more accessible, some feel that it could go further in adapting to contemporary usage without losing its accuracy. Nevertheless, the New American Standard Updated Version remains a highly esteemed translation, valued for its fidelity to the original texts and its usefulness for in-depth study and precise interpretation of the Bible.